Names In The News

In San Jose, David Pollak notes Sharks co-Owner KEVIN COMPTON is the “most visible of the 11 people who comprise the ownership group that changed its name from Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment to San Jose Sports & Entertainment three months ago.” Compton, with “rare exception … avoids speaking publicly about the Sharks.” After team President & CEO GREG JAMISON’s departure in September, there was “a review of all aspects of an organization that had grown into much more than a hockey team and arena operator.” MMA operation Strikeforce was sold and a corporate merchandising division “that put logos of any company on T-shirts and mugs was jettisoned.” The team's online presence “was moved from communications to marketing” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/7).

Thompson said she loves traveling around
and appearing on TV shows

STYLIN' & PROFILIN': Golfer LEXI THOMPSON is profiled in the N.Y. TIMES' STYLE MAGAZINE, and Karen Crouse writes the nearly six feet tall 16-year-old “looks like a runway model but drives the ball like a lumberjack.” Thompson said, “I love traveling around doing TV shows and things like that. It has been a lot of fun, the whole journey has been a blast, and it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do.” Thompson said the highlight of her first LPGA Tour victory in September was getting to meet actors TAYLOR LAUTNER and JONAH HILL on NBC's “Today” show (TMAGAZINE.com, 12/6).

IN THE COURTS: In DC, Steve Yanda reports a Montgomery County (Md.) circuit court judge last week sided with T'Wolves F MICHAEL BEASLEY in a case against his former agent JOEL BELL and, "for the time being, eliminated the breach-of-contract lawsuit Bell brought against Beasley in January.” Beasley’s attorney on Monday “voluntarily withdrew the third-party complaint Beasley had filed in September against CURTIS MALONE, who coached Beasley as a youth.” While Malone’s involvement in the legal matter between Beasley and Bell “is done for now, the dispute between the two initial parties continues” (WASHINGTON POST, 12/7).
NAMES: DONALD TRUMP is “still buying the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, although the price he agreed to pay in the final contract was $150 million, or $20 million less than when the sale was announced in October.” The resorts filed papers in bankruptcy court Dec. 2 for “approval of procedures to hold an auction to learn if someone else will pay more than Trump.” If outbid, Trump will “earn a $4.5 million breakup fee” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/6)....NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL will visit Ford Field for Sunday’s Vikings-Lions game as part of his fan forum series. Goodell will host a Q&A session with select season-ticket holders about three hours before the game (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/7)….Former NBAer ANTOINE WALKER was sentenced yesterday to five years of probation for failing to repay about $1M in gambling debts owed to three Las Vegas casinos (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/7)….Cubs President of Baseball Operations THEO EPSTEIN has paid $3.25M for a “newly-built, 7,800-square-foot house in Lakeview, just blocks from Wrigley Field” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/7).